TANEY COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

LOVELL FOUND GUILTY OF INTERFERING WITH AN ARREST

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:53:31 +0000

On Tuesday, May 15, 2012, a Taney County jury found Timothy E. Lovell (d/o/b 06-05-1966), formerly of Branson, guilty of the class D felony of interfering with an arrest. The 9-woman, 3-man jury heard one-and-a-half days of evidence, and reached the guilty verdict on Lovell after deliberating for over eight (8) hours. The same jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the issue of guilt for Lovell’s co-defendant, resulting in Circuit Court Judge Mark Orr to declare a mistrial with regard to the co-defendant’s charge. Assistant Prosecutor R. Tiffany Yarnell tried the case for the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office.

Interfering with an arrest carries a maximum sentence of four (4) years in prison and/or a fine of $5,000.00. Sentencing for Lovell has been scheduled for July 19, 2012.

NATHAN GARDNER SENTENCED TO NINE (9) YEARS FOR HOME INVASION

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:40:38 +0000

On Thursday, May 10, 2012, in the Circuit Court of Taney County, Circuit Judge Mark Orr sentenced Nathan Alexander Gardner (d/o/b 2/29/1992), of Branson, to nine (9) years in prison for having been found guilty by a Taney County jury of three (3) felonies on March 6, 2012. A 7-woman, 5-man jury, in the Taney County Circuit Court unanimously agreed that Gardner was guilty of the charges of burglary in the first degree, assault in the first degree, and armed criminal action, after deliberating for about one-hour. The same jury deliberated on the sentences for each of the felonies, and returned recommendations of five (5) years for burglary in the first degree, six (6) years for assault in the first degree, and three (3) years for armed criminal action. After hearing arguments from the defense and the prosecution, Judge Orr sentenced Gardner to the sentences recommended by the jury, however, ordered that the three (3) years for armed criminal action should be served consecutively to the other recommended sentences.

ERWIN SENTENCED TO SIX (6) YEARS IN PRISON IN MULTIPLE FELONY CASES

admin — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:26:44 +0000

EDWARD D. ERWIN, III, (d.o.b. 8-6-1992), of Rockaway Beach, Missouri, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Mark Orr on Thursday, May 3, 2012, to six (6) years in prison for three class C felonies. Erwin entered a guilty plea in two (2) felony cases on Thursday pursuant to a plea agreement with the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office. In separate cases, Erwin pleaded guilty to the class C felonies of burglary in the second degree and stealing, for which he received concurrent six (6) year prison sentences. Erwin pleaded guilty to a total of two (2) class C felony counts burglary in the second degree, and one (1) class C felony count of stealing.

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TWENTY (20) YEAR SENTENCE FOR WAGGONER

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:40:24 +0000

Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell, announced today that DANNY WAGGONER, JR., DOB: 5/25/1987, of Harrison, Arkansas, was sentenced Thursday, April 19, 2012, by Circuit Judge Mark Orr to prison terms on the charges of Robbery in the first degree, Tampering in the first degree, and Armed Criminal Action. Judge Orr sentenced Waggoner to fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for Burglary in the first degree, seven (7) years for the Tampering in the first degree, and twenty (20) years for Armed Criminal Action. Waggoner had previously entered a guilty plea on February 16, 2012, to the three (3) felonies, in the Taney County Circuit Court, with the only agreement with the State being that the sentences could run concurrently with one another.

Burglary in the first degree carries a maximum punishment of fifteen (15) years in prison, and Tampering in the first degree carries a maximum punishment of seven (7) years in prison. The felony of Armed Criminal Action stems from Waggoner using a firearm to threaten the homeowner – who ultimately shot Waggoner – and there is no maximum sentence for that crime.

MARTINEZ FOUND GUILTY OF FELONY DOMESTIC ASSAULTS

admin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:29:00 +0000

FORSYTH, MO – Taney County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that ANTHONY MARTINEZ, dob: 01/28/1976 of Branson, Missouri, was found guilty by Circuit Court Judge Mark Orr of the class B felony of domestic assault in the first degree, along with two (2) counts of the class C felony of domestic assault in the second degree, and one (1) count of the unclassified felony of armed criminal action. Formal sentencing is scheduled for June 21, 2012.

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MERRIAM WOODS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD ABUSE

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:54:31 +0000

On Thursday, March 22, 2012, Aaron L. Proctor (d.o.b. 08-11-1985) of Merriam Woods, pleaded guilty to child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, in the Circuit Court of Taney County, Missouri. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Proctor was sentenced to four (4) years in prison on each count, to be served concurrently. Proctor had no criminal history prior to his guilty plea to these charges.

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BRANSON MAN GUILTY OF BIGAMY

admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:01:34 +0000

On Monday, March 19th, 2012, in the Taney County Associate Circuit Court, Michael S. Crow (DOB: 02-24-1969) of Branson, pleaded guilty to one count of Bigamy, and was sentenced by Judge Tony Williams to the maximum sentence of one (1) year in the Taney County Jail and a one thousand dollar ($1,000.00) fine. There was no agreement at the time of Crow’s guilty plea as to what sentence would be imposed, however, the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office agreed to dismiss one count of Crow’s two (2) counts of Bigamy prior to the defendant entering a guilty plea.

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VARRIEUR FOUND GUILTY IN ALTERCATION WITH BRANSON POLICE

admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:27:49 +0000

RAYMOND D. VARRIEUR (d.o.b. 9-17-1980), of Branson, was found guilty as charged by Judge Mark Orr, after a bench trial held on January 26, 2012. Judge Orr scheduled Varrieur’s next appearance for April 12, 2012, at which time it is expected a sentencing date will be set. Varrieur was charged by the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office with the class D felony of resisting a lawful detention, the class C felony of tampering with a motor vehicle in the first degree, class B misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, and the class A misdemeanor of assault on a law enforcement officer in the third degree.

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TELEVISION THEFT EARNS EIGHT (8) YEAR PRISON SENTENCE

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:51:35 +0000

On Thursday, March 8, 2012, in Taney County Circuit Court, CHRISTOPHER PARENTI (d/o/b 07-25-1982), of Branson, was sentenced by Judge Mark Orr to eight (8) years in prison for felony stealing. The charge stemmed from defendant’s theft of a television from Wal-Mart in April of 2011. Parenti’s eight (8) year prison sentence was executed pursuant to a plea agreement with the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office.

On April 19, 2011, Branson Police Officer Randall Blackburn was dispatched to the Wal-Mart on State Highway 76 in referencing to a stealing incident, in which a male stole a 55” flat screen television, valued at approximately $1,500.00. The man managed to leave the store with the television, but ultimately abandoned the TV in the parking lot and fled on foot. Surveillance footage was recovered by officers, but they were not immediately able to identify the man. On April 20, 2011, Branson Officer Lawrence Gott responded to a domestic dispute between a male and Christopher Parenti at a local apartment complex. During the investigation of that dispute, the male mentioned to officers, “because it was the right thing to do,” that the defendant admitted to him that he stole the television from Wal-Mart the previous night. With this new information, officers re-reviewed the surveillance footage and were able to successfully identify Parenti as the man who stole the television.

Parenti had pleaded guilty to the felony stealing charge as a prior and persistent felony offender, meaning that he had at least two (2) previous felony convictions. Felony stealing is a class C felony, which normally carries a maximum of seven (7) years and/or a fine of $5,000.00. Because the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office had charged Parenti as a prior and persistent offender, his maximum possible prison sentence was enhanced to fifteen (15) years.

FIFTEEN (15) YEARS FOR PLEAS IN INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE METH CASE

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:37:16 +0000

ROBERT S. WILSON (d.o.b. 8/11/1954), of Hollister, Missouri, entered guilty pleas on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, before Taney County Circuit Court Judge Mark Orr on two (2) charges of class B felony of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, as a persistent felony drug offender. Wilson had previously been found guilty by Judge Orr following a bench trial held on November 16, 2011, for committing the same crime on another date, charged in a separate case.

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